Eucharistic Dove

You are here

The dove is constructed of two sides soldered together and reinforced with rivets (see radiograph, fig.8, Swarzenski and Netzer, 1986). The tail consisting of an upper enameled plaque and a lower gilded and engraved one, is soldered and riveted to the body. The enameled and engraved wings, which...

The dove is constructed of two sides soldered together and reinforced with rivets (see radiograph, fig.8, Swarzenski and Netzer, 1986). The tail consisting of an upper enameled plaque and a lower gilded and engraved one, is soldered and riveted to the body. The enameled and engraved wings, which cross over the tail, are attached with rivets. Under the hinged right forewing is an oval receptacle for the host (H: 50mm; W: 66mm; D: 49mm) constructed from one curved piece of gilded copper soldered to a base plate. The blue glass eyes are attached to a rivet; the beak of cast brass is the end of a rivet extending to the back of the head; and the legs of solid copper serve as rivets attaching the feet and circular enameled base to the body. Enamel colors are lapis blue, red, green, yellow, and light blue. Plumage is simulated by engraving done on the gilt body after the bird was assembled. The wings and tail are enameled with linear and scale patterns and inset with turquoise and dark-blue stones on punched diagonal bands. The circular lapis-blue base has a central enameled rosette surrounded by thin rinceaux ending alternately in reserved and enameled trefoil leaves.